All Gulfstream jets ordered after April 1 this year are to feature an automated external defibrilator (AED) as standard equipment, it has announced.

The manufacturer will fit Agilent Heartstream FR2 AEDs provided by Medaire, Inc. MedAire will

also provide AED equipment familiarisation training for Gulfstream flight crews.

“Gulfstream has automated external defibrillators on all its demonstrator aircraft,” said Randy Gaston, vp flight operations. “We are pleased that they will now be standard operating equipment on every Gulfstream. It’s the right thing to do,” he continued.

AEDs are said to be an effective treatment for patients suffering from sudden cardiac arrest. The device sends electrical pulses through the patient’s body, returning their heart to a regular rhythm. MedAire says statistics indicate the chances of recovery are considerably reduced unless the treatment using the AED is administered within ten minutes of cardiac arrest.

“This limited window of opportunity makes the accessibility of the AED onboard aircraft vital,” said Joan Sullivan Garrett, president and ceo of MedAire. We want to save the passenger’s life, that means landing is not an option.

MedAire is very pleased that Gulfstream has made the decision to outfit its business jet aircraft with this emergency equipment,” she added.

The Agilent Heartstream FR2 meets all FAA regulatory requirements and does not interfere with onboard communication and navigational equipment when used on an aircraft.